It’s Not TV

Photo credit: HBO

I think that the message of hope at the heart of this piece is really the incredible depth of the human spirit to survive an overwhelming tragedy.”

So says British desi director Bharat Nalluri of his latest project, HBO mini-series Tsunami: The Aftermath.

It’s been two years since the coastal regions of South and Southeast Asia were destroyed by the devastating giant tidal waves.

In Tsunami, Nalluri, who has previously been a television director with BBC One, offers us a hard-hitting look at what things might have been like in the aftermath.

The two-part series stars Academy Award nominees Toni Collette, Tim Roth, and Sophie Okenodo (you’ve seen her in Hotel Rwanda).

If you missed last night’s episode, check out HBO listings for reruns. Part two airs next Sunday, December 17, at 8PM EST.

Becoming Family: A Tsunami Relief Documentary

A small coastal village’s tsunami memorial to the 136 people who died there. (typecastingfilms.com)

I remember attending a five-college production of Richard III years ago and being struck by the dynamic lead actor Rahmi Mowjood. He brought Shakespeare’s portrayal of a bitter, power-hungry royal to life. Mowjood went on to complete medical school, and recently worked with filmmaker Carl Strecker to produce a documentary recording the efforts of U.S. physicians, including himself, who flew to Sri Lanka to provide medical relief in the months following the tsunami. Becoming Family: A Tsunami Relief Documentary premiered at the South Asian International Film Festival in NY this fall. An upcoming screening is on December 25 in Los Angeles (details).

More information: Videos, Pictures
CMC Magazine story on filmmakers

Blast Off! Sunita Williams Heads Back to Space

The space shuttle Discovery is getting ready for a December 7 launch on a mission to the international space station, and Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams will be on board. She’ll be in space for six months, replacing German astronaut Thomas Reiter as flight engineer.

Back in October 2004, Nirali interviewed Sunita, and she had some inspiring words for other women interested in pursuing what can seem like far-fetched careers for women, even in these modern times:

Don’t ever let anyone tell you, “You can’t do it.” That’s the biggest thing—I had one squad commander who said, “Being an astronaut is for jet pilots, not for helicopter pilots.” If you know that’s what you want, you’ve just got to go for it. You do the best you can do at what you’re doing and find out what you need to do to get in this field.

Wise words, indeed. Good luck to Sunita and the entire Discovery crew on a safe and fruitful mission.

Read the October 2004 Niraliinterview with Sunita Williams

Treehugger’s Simran Sethi on Martha Stewart

Simran Sethi of TreehuggerTV, appeared on Martha Stewart’s show on October 4th, offering tips on design products which are sustainable and eco-friendly. Martha was duly impressed by the knowledgeable Sethi, who completed an MBA focused on sustainable management from Presidio.

I especially loved the furniture from Q Collection. Sustainable style is tres chic!

Related: In Living Green